Water Quality

"...boundary waters and the waters flowing across the boundary shall not be polluted on either side to the injury of health or property on the other."

-Article IV Boundary Waters Treaty 1909

In the Boundary Waters Treaty, Canada and the United States agreed that neither country will pollute boundary waters, or waters that flow across the boundary, to an extent that would cause injury to health or property in the other country.

The treaty also states that the Governments may refer any questions or matters of difference arising along the common border to the International Joint Commission for examination and report. To support the governments in meeting their treaty commitments, the IJC has two potential roles:

The governments may ask the IJC to investigate or monitor water quality in lakes and rivers along the common border.

The IJC may alert the governments to concerns with water quality of the boundary and transboundary waters.